Imagine, you just turned sixteen, studied for a couple of weeks, and passed the Massachusetts Permit Test. Or, you are sixteen and a half, spent countless hours in drivers education and, finally passed the road examination and in a flash, your permit or license is suspended.
In Massachusetts, if you are under 18 years old it is critical you both know and follow the junior operator driving laws.
Junior operator license holders as well as their families often do not appreciate the harsh ramifications and license suspensions for minor traffic violations. Failure to comply with the junior operator conditions, no matter how minor of a violation, will result in your permit or license being suspended. In many cases not only is your license or permit suspended but you will be required to retake the permit and full road test before your driving privileges will be fully reinstated.
Suspendable Offenses
| Violation | First Offense | Second Offense |
|---|---|---|
| Passenger Restriction | • 60-day suspension • Driver Attitudinal Retraining Course • $100 reinstatement fee |
• 180-day suspension • Driver Attitudinal Retraining Course • $100 reinstatement fee |
| Time Restriction – Violation 12:30am – 5am | • 60-day suspension • $100 reinstatement fee |
• 180-day suspension • Driver Attitudinal Retraining Course • $100 reinstatement fee |
| Operating to Endanger/Recklessly or Negligent | • 80-day suspension • $500 reinstatement fee |
• 1-year suspension • Full license exam • $500 reinstatement fee |
| Drag-Racing | • 1-year suspension • Driver Attitudinal Retraining Course • SCARR Course • Full license exam |
• 3-year suspension • Driver Attitudinal Retraining Course • SCARR Course • Full license exam • $1000 reinstatement fee |
| Speeding | • 90-day suspension • Driver Attitudinal Retraining Course • SCARR Course • Full license exam • $500 reinstatement fee |
• 1-year suspension • Driver Attitudinal Retraining Course • SCARR Course • Full license exam • $500 reinstatement fee |
| Conviction for the use of a mobile electronic device (text or phone) | • 60-day suspension • Driver Attitudinal Retraining Course • Full license exam • $100 reinstatement fee |
•180-day suspension • $100 reinstatement fee |
| Negligent operation and injury from mobile phone use | •180-day suspension • $500 reinstatement fee |
• 1-year suspension • Full license exam • $500 reinstatement fee |
Once a ticket is paid, any junior operator license will be suspended. It is important to note that junior operators are not eligible to get a hardship license from the Registry of Motor Vehicles. Any relief must be sought through the Division of Insurance Board of Appeals, where the Registry will most often be represented by an attorney.
Do JOL Violations remain on the driver’s record after they turn 18?
Yes, JOL Speeding Violations will remain on the driver's record even after they turn 18 years of age. These violations can have lasting implications for the driver, as they can be used to increase automobile insurance premiums and may also lead to other penalties, such as suspensions for accumulating 7 surchargeable events or facing a 4-year Habitual Traffic Offender Revocation. Therefore, it is important for drivers to be mindful of their driving behavior and prioritize safe and responsible practices on the road, even after they transition out of the Junior Operator phase. If a Junior Operator receives a ticket, they should consult the team at Gilman Law immediately.
If you are a junior operator or the parent of a junior operator, it is critical that you speak with an experienced license attorney before paying any ticket. I have had significant success appealing these citations in the District Court. No permit or license suspensions will go into effect as the citation is under appeal.
